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P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

190 followers 180 following 350 posts

A full-stack writer. Forget seven days, whoever heard of someone trying to create an entire world in only their spare time?

Actually, that might explain a few things...

#teowad #scifi #fantasy #chaostheory #humour #heart

https://teowad.co.uk

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P.J. Loop @pjloop.bsky.social · 20d

Also... In the meantime, here's another style of advert I've been working on to publicise the book —once it's fully available.

I think it has the right mix of silly-seriousness/small-to-grandness (or perhaps vice versa).

But I might also be off my rocker.

Let me know what you think.

#BookSky

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Distance loves a thing called a Lateral Cake, which takes absolutely ages to make and only five minutes to eat.. This annoys her sensibilities, but one of the reasons she needs to take a break and enjoy a dessert as artfully constructed as a cathedral —once in a while— is to escape her overthinking.

Isaac X Isaac @isaacxisaac.bsky.social · 2d

Today's random #Lovember #WritingPrompt for the #WriteSky #WritingCommunity:

Is there something your character (main or otherwise) deeply loves that isn't a person, animal, or other creature? A food, an object, a concept? 🤔

November 11, 2025 at 9:21 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

No, but I have fears I won't be able to come up with enough unique and believable characters, or interesting locations, to fulfil the ideas I have. But then I manage to take a good break from my day job, or travel, and I find the elements I need.

I'd say I worry more about expiring mid series.

Susan Savage Lee @susansavagelee.bsky.social · 2d

Writers, do you ever fear running out of story ideas? This is one fear I don’t have #writingq #WritingCommunity

November 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Officially surpassed 94,000 words on #teowad Episode 2. But I don't want to think —yet— about how much I need to go back over things.

EP1 sits at 117,000 words and is "done". I may be able to tighten it some more, but I don't see it going lower than 115,000. I'm giving it some space for now though.

November 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Finally!

Everything that was a complete mess (in terms of metadata) has been tidied up in #teowad Episode One.

Even the trash and notes have been emptied. 😮

Fear not ... Anything of use has been moved to a wiki. 😌

Now I need to do the same for EP2.

(and no, I'm not procrastinating!)

#amwriting

A screenshot of my Scrivener project for TEOWAD:EP1 that has never looked so clean. This is probably the tidiest and final-est it will ever be.

Now I just need to go through and make sure the formatting is all good for the paperback and ebook layouts after compilation.

*grimace*.... looove doing that bit, it's not painstaking at all.

November 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Anyone else like to check #AI for writing, just to make yourself feel better about your own ability?

I mean, AI written fiction is *truly terrible*.

Laughably so...

It's like a speechwriter trying to sing a song using only the soaring chords, with pacing learned from youtube comments.

#amwriting

November 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Oh, I absolutely 'love and hate' this.

In Onaian that would be 'amodi'...

I am supposed to be doing other things.

But when music directly aligns to my writing it's very hard to stop, at all ...

The track: ghost - I SEE COLORS

You are going to get me in trouble.

#teowad:ep2
#amwriting
#writesky

November 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I wonder if #WIPSnips has ever done the word 'that' just to open the eyes of many writers, like myself, how easy it is to end up with a page full of them?

Was a total eye opener for me when I was shown, err..., the behaviour of which I'm describing.

Avoiding it then goes the other way.

#amwriting

An image that shows the word 'that' enlarged so much that it becomes that which you cannot miss. That is, unless you cannot see that image. In which case, I've attempted to recreate that effect here, that then —of course— must occur only using that which can be read out loud.

Hopefully that explains that.

November 8, 2025 at 10:43 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

This paragraph is old.

-- 8< --
All fidgeting here and there. Packed together in their neat formations. Each bundle of energy happily humming away its own existence. Oblivious to anything beyond its discreet /little/ universe.
-- 8< --

#teowad
#amwriting
#WriteSky
#WritingCommunity
#WritingPrompts

The text reads:

It was impossible to see anything in the darkness.
As absolute as it was.

No shapes to recognise.
No detail to notice.
And definitely no colour or depth to speak of.

But despite the lack of anything visual, there was still an overpowering sense —an unnerving feeling— of being trapped. Wherever or whatever this place was, it was boxed in. The air was warm and stale, with a taste verging on the metallic. Which, for some unknown reason, was infused with the light scent of lemon.
The room —if a simple, dark space can be called as such— had the inexplicable, but nevertheless unmistakable presence, of __contents__. Although, trying to describe contents that can be neither seen nor touched, is rather difficult.
To put things in a clearer way, the room was obviously not empty. You see, the whole place was alive with the telltale buzz of matter. Multitudes upon millitudes of buzzing particles. All fidgeting here and there. Packed together in their neat formations. Each bundle of energy happily humming away its own existence. Oblivious to anything beyond its discreet little universe.
And that is probably how everything would have remained.
Had it not been for the arrival of __The Noise__…
It burst in on the silent black like an unexpected tax bill. Its high-pitched whistle wavered in a way easily resembling a boiling kettle being forcibly reversed through time. Sound waves resounded off unseen walls and surfaces, echoing back and forth. Intermingling with the other inaudible sounds already lying around in the dark. Then, just as quickly as it had started, it stopped... with a loud pop.
Suddenly, all was changed in the darkness.

November 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Finally done the impossible.

Got Detective Inspector Webb into a short last night. Her character is a tricky one to deal with because she's abrasive & odd upfront, but interesting once you get to know her.

She's a balance.

{ SOUND ON }

(the audio is temporary prior to voice artistry)

#amediting

November 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

You know that feeling where you set up a fiverr brief & post it, because you really need to get moving on some things, even though you know it's just before some of your busiest days of the month. But you think, it's ok, only a few people will respond.. And then you find out your bike's been stolen.

October 30, 2025 at 8:43 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Jeesh. Doing all this stuff yourself isn't easy.

But then again.. I knew that when I decided to go the self-publishing route. Querying isn't easy either.

My head is so full of dealing with different things I'm starting to forget to how to be normal.

#teowad
#amwriting
#indieauthor
#selfpublishing

An over-amped promo image that shows off my book 'The End of Worth and Distance : Episode One'. You see the book on a boulder of some sort, pitched up against a view of a forest and the sunset/sunrise.

October 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Agree. Might be showing my hand a bit, but I had to look argent up, and I know words like recalcitrant.

Elvis Dylan @elvisdylan.bsky.social · 15d

#vss365

For most people, the word #argent has no meaning. It triggers no image, no feeling, no nothing. Such words should not be prompts.

October 29, 2025 at 10:36 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Oh my word. Good question. Yes! Any scenes involving the PoliceGuard where they have to operate like the PoliceGuard, until I've put in enough excuses for them to not be so rigid. Trying to make those scenes interesting (without explosions) was tricky —but they helped me grow as a writer, 1000%.

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 16d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 28 📚

Is there a scene that you really struggled to write? Why?

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 28 What's the most chellenging scen you had to write, and why?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

October 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Jumping Jigawatts! There's no 'costume' across all 3 books? Let's use dress instead.

-- 8< --
"Hey, oh come on!" She exclaimed. "Don't talk to me about professional, or should I mention the 'Red Dress Fiasco' once again??" She glared over her glasses.
-- 8< --

#WIPSnips
#WriteSky
#WritingCommunity

The text reads:

"Hey, oh __come__ on!" She exclaimed. "Don't talk to me about professional, or should I mention the 'Red Dress Fiasco' once again??" She glared over her glasses.
"That was completely different!" He countered, "you know I didn't mean for you to wear it."
"No, of course not. Give someone something nice to wear and they'll just leave it gathering dust!" She snapped, with an intensity in her eyes.
"That's __not__ what I did, and you know it." He glowered back, shaking his head.
"…__anyway__." He breathed the word long and drawn out, with overly theatrical arms, "we're tired. Let's get this meeting of egos underway, shall we?"
Flipping open the FarTalk again, he rotated a few dials on the device —for a short while nothing happened— but then the familiar glow rose up from its page, and the __clink-clunking__ returned. The sound seemed to travel along every surface. It had the quality of a low tick from a grandfather clock, but only if with every tock, it changed its size, shape and position.
The __clunking__ continued, for far longer than was customary.
→Whoever was on the other end, wasn't picking up.
⏎
Worth shifted his weight and gave a sideways look at the woman, she shrugged back …and still the __clink-clunking__ continued. Dropping her shoulders, the woman sighed. And then, with the energy of someone who was __still__ having a long day, wandered over to the nearby bookcase. Which had, thankfully, long since regained its structural integrity.

October 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I know, I'm getting ahead of myself…

But sometimes that's the only way you can see what's coming next. Unfortunately, I still have yet to work out how to communicate any useful warnings back to my past or present self…

The last message I got simply said 'watch this space'?!

#teowad:ep2
#amwriting

This is a screenshot of the blurb I've just added to Episode Two's cover. It will likely change, evolve and take over a few planets before I settle on the final version —but this seems ok for now.

Message reads:

FIRST THERE WAS DARKNESS, THEN THERE WAS LIGHT
SCENTS OF WET CAT AND LEMON.
WHATEVER NEXT IN EPISODE TWO?

The ending continues. Rejoin Webb and Distance as they battle their way through wholly dangerous situations and a few potential misunderstandings. Worth is back doing his awesome thing, learning what the hard way looks like —solely for identification purposes, you understand.
And of course, their friends and colleagues are still close by, ever ready to lend a hand, a head shake or a Harmonic.

What exactly is going on?
Why are there teleporting felines?
Which way exactly are the ghostly realms?
Do sky explosions count as weather?
Can these Onaians ever get a break?
Or, at least a very late breakfast?

Unfortunately, only time will tell, and that particular instance of chronological measurement has been keeping quiet. Until now. So, read on, dear reader, if you wish to find some answers. But be warned, you may well get lost in this other world we call Onaia... and if you do it well, you may not want to come back.

October 27, 2025 at 1:13 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Some feedback from my editor was optionally move away from:

- Italicised tagged thoughts ("he thought").

Which I've been used to all my life, over to:

- Modern convention (esp. in limited third-person) treats the narration itself as the character's experience and thoughts.

#booksky
#amediting

October 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

-- 8< --

Context Note: Worth has never liked hats. Mostly because they don't seem to like him very much. But also, because nearly every single hat he has ever owned or attempted to wear, always, ALWAYS, looks better on Distance.

-- 8<--
#teowad
#WIPSnips
#WriteSky
#WritingPrompts
#WritingCommunity

The text reads:

Standing only a little way away from the table and its air-freshening enigma, he hadn't been looking in the direction of the quirky contraption, its unexpected behaviour however, had stolen his focus away from what he __had__ been doing.
Which was investigating.
He definitely had his investigative hat on, metaphorically speaking[1]. His pockets were filled with all his most investigational-ready devices, and he was wearing his most inconspicuous boots —whilst trying very hard to emanate a feeling of belonging. Everything around him was a blend of sleek, contemporary and shiny design however, so he was finding the last part rather tricky.

Footnotes:
[1] Context Note: Worth has never liked hats. Mostly because they don't seem to like him very much. But also, because nearly every single hat he has ever owned or attempted to wear, always, __ALWAYS__, looks better on Distance.

October 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

What is it about music that it can keep you going way beyond?

So much of my writing would never exist without it.

Thank you #music, hopefully you're out there listening...

Think I've successfully wrangled 1500 words of world building exposition down to 500 of narrative. 😌

#amwriting
#amlistening

October 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Just realised I've enough content after TEOWAD's EP1, EP2 & EP3 to create a prequel novella. I swear I didn't do this on purpose, but the scenes kind of thread together to create a Worth & Distance security-remit comedy.

And now I've just come up with a plot..

*sigh*

I need more time!

#amwriting

October 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Is this a vibe or a synonym? ... vibonym?

-- 8< --

"I know what you're like!" Worth added with a smile and a shake of his head, "given half a /chance/ you'd have the sandwich toaster hooked up to some kind of experiment."

-- 8< --

#teowad
#WIPSnips
#WriteSky
#WritingPrompts
#WritingCommunity

The text reads:

"Something about there being a temporary shortage of __VibraTechnics__— or something." Worth shrugged, his face showing clear dislike of using words that didn't agree with him.
"Oh, really?" She replied, disappointed.
"Yep, lots of stuff about unexpected delays and problems in the something whatchamacallits?"
"Err…" Distance started, her expression fully aware of quite how many things would fit Worth's less-than-detailed explanation, "Supply chain?" she suggested.
"Yep, that's it." He clicked his fingers in agreement.
"Brilliant, oh well… I'll have to make do with what we've already got then, perhaps scavenge some parts from things at the office —stuff that we don't particularly __need__."
Worth noticed the change in her voice on the last word.
"Stay… away… from my storage." He warned, eyes narrowing.
"What? I didn't say __anything__." She grinned.
"I know what you're like!" Worth added with a smile and a shake of his head, "given half a chance you'd have the sandwich toaster hooked up to some kind of experiment."
"It's okay, it's okay." She reassured, hands raised, her expression a picture of honesty, "I'd never harm our sandwich toaster."
Worth stared at her, trying to decide which way was up.

October 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Ok, challenge set, one new scene to do the following:

- Lessen the learning curve of #teowad.
- Introduce early world building in a succinct manner, threaded into narrative, covering: Planetary alignment, Camera tech, Material science & Bank Adverts.

Oh & reduce word count by 8k words.

#amwriting

October 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

#OctoberWorldbuilders 24. The overall vibe of my story is:

You know that feeling when you suddenly think you've left the gas on, so you quickly turn back homeward. But then you realise you don't use gas anymore, you've upgraded to Resonance. So you chuckle..

Then, your empty house explodes anyway.

#OctoberWorldbuilders image outlining what day people should post with what.

The map of Latium Onaia, which shows mountain ranges, desert part, ice areas and rivers, key place names, and city regions.

October 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

-- 8< --

A few moments later, another popped into existence, and then another. Each one thrown a little further across the balcony —until there were six in /total/. They looked like perfectly positioned stepping stones.

-- 8< --

#scifi
#teowad
#WriteSky
#WIPSnips
#WritingPrompts
#WritingCommunity

A partial scene from EP1 involving my character, Distance.

The text reads:

For some time there was silence, perforated by deep breaths.

Jeesh. She thought I should have gone to the Illumination Quarter! A nice breakfast would've definitely been better than this.
Once her breathing calmed, further sounds emitted from the blur. A few clinks, some kind of scuffled rearranging, and a metal hoop appeared and fell onto the floor with a light thunk. A few moments later, another popped into existence, and then another. Each one thrown a little further across the balcony —until there were six in total. They looked like perfectly positioned stepping stones.
There came a further noise.
A strange whistle— one which sounded like a songbird trapped in a salad spinner, tumbling over a waterfall. Immediately the metal rings activated. They rose up from the floor where they had been dropped, glowing blue, and between them a shifting pathway of sapphire light emerged.
Satisfied, the Distance-shaped blur hopped down from the wall, and presumably landed on to the Resonance pathway. A bridge which was indisputably levitating only a finger's-width or so from the ground. The blur slowly stepped along the energetic path, until reaching the sixth floating ring. Which had fallen just in front of a tall glass doorway, one that gave entrance into the main building.

A few more shuffling noises,
→the sound of an item being unclipped, opened and shut.
→→And then, a very annoyed word[1] escaped her lips.

Footnotes:
[1] Translation Note: Frustratingly there is __absolutely__ a translation for this word, but we aren't allowed to include it in print, digital or otherwise.

October 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

No idea if I'm odd for doing this (probably) but years back, when I got serious about writing, I stopped myself reading much at all. I found too much of what I was reading was clouding my thinking..

I allowed myself to read non-fiction, watch films/series, but I avoided fiction.

#teowad
#amwriting

October 24, 2025 at 11:03 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Great news! My editor's feedback mostly was...

I'm very grateful for the lovely words and constructive feedback.

There are still some things to tune and improve, however.

So, I'm back focusing on Episode One again.

Finally —soon— I'll be out of the forest..

#teowad
#amwriting
#writingcommunity

October 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM

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